The growth of Co-operative movement in Kerala was insignificant during pre-independent era. Only 1669 co-operatives were functioning in the state with a total working capital of Rs.92.21 lakhs. The membership and paid up share capital were Rs.2.05 and Rs. 31.79 lakhs respectively. Credit and non-credit operations during the period were also nominal. Loan disbursed during the year 1946 was Rs.10.62 lakhs only. Performance in the area of Consumer, Marketing etc. were also not remarkable when compared to the exquisite achievements during the succeeding years. The provision to omit the clause in the Kerala Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Ordinance 2017 of April which says five types of societies – including Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) – should conduct elections at the ward-level is cited as a move to manipulate the polls to the board of directors. The major amendment is the substitution of the clause ‘a DCB or Central Society with jurisdiction over one revenue district will have only PACS and Urban Cooperative Banks as its members.’ As per the amendment, a DCB may admit any cooperative society registered under the provisions of this act as nominal or associate members. No member of a society shall be eligible to hold office as president or vice-president for more than two consecutive terms. Another amendment says those societies not accepting financial assistant the Kerala Cooperative Development and Welfare Fund Board (KCDWFB), Deposit Guarantee Scheme and the Risk Fund Scheme of the KCDWFB, Nabard, and any other financial institution under the state or Centre cannot be dissolved. The Post Graduate Department of Commerce has organised a Training programme on 17th July, 2018 for the newly elected members of different co-operative societies in Kerala in purview of the amendments in the co operative sector. The training session was handled by Mr. Unnikrishnan P.B., who was the Joint Registrar (Rtd.) and also a Senior Faculty member of IMG, ICM, KICMA and ITM. Around 13 members from various co operative societies attended the training and it turned out to be a very innovative and dynamic session
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